ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) organised a technical session titled “Building Resilience from the Ground Up: Planning, Architecture and Climate-Responsive Infrastructure” at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Islamabad.
The session brought together experts from planning, architecture and engineering to discuss ways to integrate disaster resilience into infrastructure planning before construction begins.
Experts highlighted the importance of risk-informed planning, climate-responsive architecture and context-sensitive design in reducing the vulnerability of buildings, settlements and infrastructure to disasters and climate-related hazards.
The presentations covered resilient settlement planning, climate-responsive architectural approaches and ways to translate resilience principles into infrastructure development at scale, with a focus on practical approaches relevant to Pakistan.
Participants stressed that disaster resilience should be considered from the earliest stages of planning and design rather than addressed only after a disaster occurs.
The session also highlighted the need for stronger coordination among planners, architects, engineers and disaster-management institutions to develop safer infrastructure and reduce risks to communities.
As Pakistan faces increasing exposure to floods, heatwaves, landslides and other climate-related hazards, integrating climate risk into infrastructure planning can help protect lives, livelihoods and public investments.
The session underscored the importance of building resilience from the ground up through better planning, informed design and coordinated disaster-risk management.
